Earth Day: Helping Parents Make Greener Choices Year Round
On Earth Day, the world comes together to promote awareness for the health of our environment. Here at MODN, that’s something we increasingly take into consideration for our designs every day — from the materials we help our clients choose, to the product lifecycle and green, clean technology.
But perhaps some of our most important contributions to sustainability over the years have been our child mobility designs. Helping parents ditch the car and take the bike, grab the stroller or strap on the carrier, we’ve designed products that meet parents’ demanding needs while promoting more sustainable ways for families to stay on the move.
At the end of the day, creating a greener world comes down to daily decisions. But without designing more and better sustainable options, we limit people’s access to eco-friendly choices. It’s up to the design community and the brands we work with the prioritize these decisions that consumers make, helping them choose products that are functional, empathetic, innovative and sustainable.
Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of doing just that — working on everything from the world-famous Yepp to the modular Quinny Hubb. Let’s take a look!
Innovative Design for GMG
The Yepp Original is one of our most famous designs. Originally designed for GMG, which was later acquired by Thule, GMG wanted a novel product. Child bike seats of the time were made of bulky plastics, heavy metals, and uncomfortable shapes. Our challenge was to create something safe, lightweight, and comfortable while being innovative and design-forward.
Instantly Iconic
The quirky design of the Yepp Original became instantly iconic. The use of lightweight, supportive, and colorful EVA material was a major market innovation. This gave parents an option where form truly met function. Today, it is still one of the best-selling bike seats in the world. It gives parents the comfort, safety, and peace of mind to put their child on the bike and go, rather than jumping in the car to commute, go to the grocery store, drop kids at school, and more.
MODYN’s Lasting Impact
MODYN’s innovative approach has made the Yepp Original a lasting success. It showcases our ability to create products that combine safety, comfort, and style, leading to a significant impact on the market.
Building on the success of the Yepp original family, the Nexxt needed to continue the legacy of innovation with a new, internationally appealing children’s bike seat. The Nexxt bike seats also needed to follow the trend for a more lightweight and comfortable option with intuitive usability.
Creative and Innovative Design
MODYN was tasked with bringing the same creativity and innovation to the Nexxt that we brought to the Yepp original. Inspired by bike helmets, we designed seats that were safe and comfortable using new-age EPP material. EPP material is lightweight, sturdy, and durable. Plus, EPP is 100% recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
MODYN’s Impact
MODYN’s innovative approach to the Nexxt bike seat showcases our ability to design products that meet modern trends. Our focus on safety, comfort, and sustainability ensures the Nexxt continues the legacy of the Yepp original, appealing to international markets.
Reimagining Design and Usability
A pioneer in safe children’s transport on bike and snow since 1956, Hamax wanted to reimagine the bike trailer. Impressed by the unique character and iconic design of the Yepp children’s bike seat, Hamax approached us to bring that same novelty to the bike trailer. Our team looked at the Hamax bike trailer project from the perspective of the stroller industry. We focused on streamlining folding and packing to be simple and intuitive for parents.
Adaptability and Versatility
We aimed to optimize its functionality, making it a platform for outdoor activity. This led us to design features like an extra wheel for better handling and slots for skis. The Outback bike trailer also gave parents important adaptability. It allows them to attach it to the back of their bike or use it for a day out in the city.
MODYN’s Impact
MODYN’s innovative approach to the Hamax bike trailer showcases our ability to enhance usability and functionality. Our design ensures a seamless and versatile experience for parents, solidifying our reputation for pioneering safe and practical children’s transport solutions.
When Thule approached MODYN, the Sapling had already been on the market for some time. MODYN was challenged to find the Sapling’s place as an everyday child carrier and redesign it to be more versatile, friendly, and stylish with unisex appeal.
Versatility and Innovation
Today, the Thule Sapling is one of the most versatile child backpack carriers on the market. Innovations include easy-to-attach accessories and dual access to the ErgoRide child seat. With clean lines and refined finishings, the Sapling is functional for a day of hiking but looks great in a museum or running errands. It allows parents to easily walk places or hop on public transport with their child.
MODYN’s Impact
MODYN’s redesign of the Thule Sapling showcases our ability to enhance product versatility and style. Our focus on functionality and universal appeal ensures the Sapling meets the needs of modern parents, solidifying its market position.
Dorel Juvenile, a longtime client of MODYN, approached us to design a new, flexible mobility solution for parents. We aimed to create a stroller that added something new to the saturated market.
Innovative Design for Quinny
We designed an innovative stroller for Quinny with integrated slots and mono-to-duo functionality. This provides parents with fast, easy flexibility. With a novel and unconventional frame design that didn’t hinge the handle to the back wheel, we created more space for storage. This allowed for creative and convenient seating configurations, like the iconic hop-on board.
MODYN’s Impact
The Hubb has been a major success for the Quinny brand, sold globally and winning a prestigious Red Dot Design award. MODYN’s innovative design for the Hubb stroller demonstrates our ability to create flexible and practical mobility solutions. Our approach has ensured the Hubb’s success and recognition in the global market.
MODYN’s original design for the Zapp — the smallest foldable buggy in the world at the time — was hugely successful for Dorel Juvenile. It became an important market innovation. A decade later, Dorel Juvenile sought to update the Zapp with a more contemporary look and feel.
Updating Functionalities
Our team updated the Zapp with new functionalities to allow parents and kids to move more freely. These updates included a 4-wheel option, reclining seats, and adaptability.
Contemporary Design
We refreshed the Zapp with contemporary lines, enabling Quinny to leverage their existing investment. This redesign built upon the iconic heritage this stroller already had with consumers.
MODYN’s Impact
MODYN’s redesign of the Zapp stroller highlights our ability to innovate and refresh popular products. By adding new functionalities and contemporary design elements, we ensured the Zapp remains a market leader and a favorite among parents.
Dorrel-Juvenile asked MODYN to create three efficient, modular strollers. These strollers needed to balance universal appeal with local adaptability, attracting parents in different regions around the world.
Advancing Innovation for Maxi-Cosi
We leveraged our brand familiarity and product knowledge to push Maxi-Cosi further. This led to features like duo-functionality, one-hand folding, and the iconic ShapeOfYou memory foam inlay.
Enhancing Comfort and Flexibility
These features contributed to a design that gave parents and kids more comfort and flexibility. This reduced their need to use the car to get around. Easy folding is a major factor, encouraging parents to make more sustainable decisions. It gives them confidence that they can easily unpack the kids and go further in their strollers when they reach their destination.
MODYN’s Impact
MODYN’s innovative stroller designs for Dorrel-Juvenile highlight our ability to balance universal appeal with local adaptability. Our advancements in features and functionality provide parents with practical, comfortable, and sustainable solutions for their mobility needs.
